By Florencemary Nwabueze

Nollywood veteran Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey has revealed that he slipped into a diabetic coma for two days in 2022 following a period of extreme work-related pressure and poor self-care. The actor made the disclosure on Sunday 31st May, at Ojez Lounge, National Stadium Surulere, during a special event organised by ‘The Forum’ Ojez Entertainment in honour of him themed around celebrating the living rather than the dead.

The gathering brought together notable figures from the Nigerian film industry, including Segun Arinze, Femi Durojaiye, broadcaster Effiong Idowu, Don Pedro Adabi (Director of Policy, Actors Guild of Nigeria), Mrs Mary Edward (the acting president of AGN Lagos chapter), Dr. Suiab Hussein (Nigeria DG of censor board), Emeka Osai, John Chukwuma, musician Ritious Man, comedian Dauda, actor and producer Prince Tunde Shado, Blessing Ani (Director of Social, AGN), and Chidi Nwakobia and other notables in the industry.

Speaking with journalists at the event, Ekpenyong explained the events leading up to his health scare and withdrawal from movie shoots.

“I’ve been working back-to-back non-stop. I was under a lot of pressure. I wasn’t sleeping well. I wasn’t eating well. So my blood pressure spiked and that triggered a diabetic coma, but fortunately for me, I got out of it after two days. I was in and out for two days. Only two days.” he said.

Reflecting on the purpose of the gathering, Ekpenyong said: “I am really excited because when Effiong was talking about the reason for the forum, he explained that it’s safer to give people their flowers when they’re alive. There’s no point in celebrating a dead man. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. Nobody remembers you when you’re dead because you’re no longer worth it. You no longer count. I feel really excited to be here. I’m proud of the initiative. I think it should continue.”

Femi Durojaiye, a Nollywood actor, producer, and screenwriter, described his long-standing relationship with the celebrant Keppy Ekpenyong.

“I’m celebrating my brother, my friend, my elder brother, Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey. A lot of people don’t know that he was my senior in secondary school. So in this gathering, since his mum or dad are not here, I’m the one that has known him the most, for the most years,” Durojaiye said.

He added: “I’ve been to a lot of candlelight processions for our colleagues that have passed away. I’m happy that today we are celebrating an icon when he’s alive. I think Nollywood should celebrate its own icons instead of waiting for African Magic to do it for us all the time.”

During a fireside one on one chat with Segun Arinze, Ekpenyong disclosed that he already held a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy when he began acting 1998.

“They thought of most of us back then as being illiterates. They thought of people who were on the side of creativity as being never too well. For those of us who were working at that time, all of us had at least a Master’s degree, which meant we had imagination and creativity. We believed we could do anything at that time, and we did.” He said

Speaking of how they started in the industry, he said: Our brothers in Nigeria refused to accept our movies initially. They had no choice at the end of the day, because our final product encouraged people. I think for us the acknowledgement came from outside Nigeria first, from the Nigerians in diaspora. So, when they began to look at home, and they began to look at what we are burning out, the home people now began to understand that we had these people all along, and we never appreciated them.”

Comparing past and present Nollywood, he criticised current production practices: “Most producers are not letting actors read the script before they get on set. So what we see is something disconnected. Actors’ preparation comes before the director’s action, but producers are not thinking about that.”

He also dismissed some box office claims of making 1 billion in a movie as false: “You made one billion from the box office and you can’t afford to pay actors well? I think we should get the police to arrest those people for telling lies.”

Condemning recent poor acting and production, he said: “The stories are not properly researched. Most producers are not letting the actors read the script before they get on set. So, what we see is something disconnected. Something disjointed. I don't understand what's happening right now. Sometimes I see a story and I know there's a story somewhere, but I don't know what the story's all about, because the actors are not allowed to prepare.”

The event concluded with singing, dancing, and celebrations in honour of the veteran actor.